Dear Arlen
This letter contains my thinking about my manuscript, The Making of a Devotee. I am placing a copy of this letter in the envelope containing my 'last instructions'.
As you know, I would like very much that this book, on which I have worked so long and which contains what may be considered a valuable record of the experiences of an early western Vedantist, should if possible be published. Preferably during my lifetime, or if that does not materialize, then posthumously. I know and am pleased by the fact that you share this attitude.
When the General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Order was here last August, I spoke with him in general terms about the accepted procedure as regards a literary work produced by one of the Order's members. He stated that the work should be considered as being the property of the Order and that if found acceptable following a reading at the Headquarters, the work should be published by one of the agencies of the Order. Any hint of surreptitious publication should be avoided. These provisions are stated in the Introduction, which you have read.
I believe then that I must--now that the whole book is to all intents and purposes finished--submit the manuscript to the Order and accept its judgment concerning possible publication. Since I have taken refuge in the Order of Ramakrishna, I must have confidence in that Order and its judgments as reflecting the will of its Founder. Why should I prejudge, as I have had a tendency to do, the attitude of the Order to be negative without giving the Order a chance to see what the work consists of?
The big problem in following this course has always been--to whom should I entrust the manuscript for a judgment? Swami Ritajananda read the book some time ago, but made no comments. Just recently I begin to see a solution to this problem. There is a youngish swami in India with whom I have been friendly--he seemed rather more 'hep' than most--he is now a Trustee and head of the influential center at Madras. Some time ago I sent a manuscript to him--Leaves from an Ashrama--which it seems he likes and probably will publish. He is someone in whom I have confidence; I like the way he has approached the Leaves project. If I live long enough I can tackle the matter of the big book after seeing how things go with this smaller one.
I appreciate your interest in the book and the fact that you too are anxious that it should be, in one way or another, permitted the light of day. But I feel efforts to 'go around' the Order should be avoided. In sending you disquettes containing the entire manuscript, I see your function as that of 'literary agent' acting for the Order in America and possibly England in case the Order approves the book and would like to see it published in the West. Also giving you a copy of the book in this fashion is a means of leaving with you an expression of my affection for you, whether or not the book is ever published.
This is my present attitude, following the deliberations we had together the evening before your departure in late July. I hope that you agree with and will accept this judgment.
Yours affectionately,
(signed) Prema